Each year, the Recording Academy, the organization behind the Grammy Awards, must re-evaluate its awarding guidelines and rules to take into account factors such as changes in the popularity of musical genres and new categories of price.
But this year, the Academy must take into account a new artist in the making: AI.
Generative AI has seeped into many industries, including the music industry, allowing people to create entire songs using just AI.
AI is able to create songs that sound like the real thing
As demonstrated by an AI-generated song featuring The Weeknd and Drake that went viral a few months ago, AI is capable of creating songs that sound like the real thing.
However, this is not without copyright implications, especially when artists – like The Weeknd and Drake, in this case – do not allow their voices to be reused in new songs.
In other cases, artists endorse the generation of musical AI in their music. For example, the Beatles are harnessing the power of AI to bring John Lennon’s voice back for one final track.
This doesn’t mean that AI-generated music won’t be recognized.
How do these songs stack up against the Grammy Awards standards and guidelines?
According to the new rules for the 2024 Grammy Awards, “only human creators may be considered for, nominated for, or won a Grammy Award.”
While only human creators will be rewarded for their work, that doesn’t mean AI-generated music won’t be recognized.
Rewards will only be given to humans who have contributed to the work
AI-generated music and content may be submitted for Grammys consideration, but awards will only be given to humans who contributed to the work. If the work does not contain a human author and relies solely on AI, it cannot be considered.
Also, in the “Composition” and “Performance” categories, the work must be primarily written or performed by a human being to be considered for a Grammy.
As AI continues to influence and change the music industry, it can be expected that the guidelines of the Recording Academy will continue to evolve and that one day, perhaps, artists using AI are rewarded for their work.
Source: “ZDNet.com”